In the article Students Behaving Badly, Richard Flacks seeks to explain the attributes of college and university students today. Their character and mannerisms, he says, are highly influenced by their backgrounds in terms of family, race and education. He made his point of view known from the onset of his findings because he tries to draw comparisons on what happens in college and universities today from what used to happen many decades ago. But then there is a problem with the way he puts forth his findings because the environment in which the studies are done is quite different. The 20th century forms of education and study are different from what is seen today, and perhaps this contributes to the trends in student study, in higher institutions of learning.
Flakes has tried to present evidence as to why this happens. He says that educational backgrounds of students, students’ family backgrounds and also student participation in social activities are a major contributor to the trends that are experienced in the 21st century. But then, he needs to factor in other contributors such as technological advancements that seem to be a major contributor to the trends seen today (Duderstadt 2000). Students in this era, regardless of their backgrounds are influenced by the era of technology and the internet where they no longer spend countless hours perusing through books, they study on the go, and this may contribute to them not studying adequately. This then means that Flakes did not consider all factors that contribute to the learning process of students, and this means that he did not present enough evidence to prove his case.
The material the author uses does not, in any way, come from a wide range of sources. The 21st century students have different modes of study and their way of doing things will, therefore, be different. This will in a way affect the way they study and conduct themselves within college. University education has been demystified, and it seems more enjoyable and easier than it used to be in the past. The author has not factored in some of these very important aspects of university education seen today; that was not existent in the past. This is a clear pointer to the fact that his argument is not widely researched. This means that the article is not all inclusive. Personally, I dislike it because it is one sided. This seems that its major intention is to bash current education trends in higher institutions of learning.
Essay 2
In the article The Real Digital Divide, from economist.com, it becomes clear that there is a real problem in the developing world with regard to technology and the embrace of the use of computers and the internet. There are efforts to ensure that third world countries are not left behind in the clamor for technology. The author has made known, his point of view from the very beginning of the essay. He has stated the various ways that can be explored in order to ensure that third world countries are not left on the other side of the digital divide. He has highlighted the efforts of the United Nations in dealing with the issue while elaborately stating the measures they are going to put into place in order to ensure that their agenda is met. The author then gives his critique of the Agenda as set out by the United Nations while offering an option that is practical and workable.
The material that is used comes from a wide range of sources. For instance, when he mentions countries that have embraced mobile telephones and how they are used, it means that he has done his research well. He states the way in which the independent countries have used mobile telephones. This is an indicator that he conducted his research from the three countries mentioned and maybe he got the information from different sources. Aside from that, he mentions figures and percentages that mean that his research may have been thorough. I like this article very much because it offers a solution to a problem that has been seen to be affecting third world nations. There are solutions offered for instance that of the United Nations. But then the author goes on to present a solution considered better, workable and practical. It is true that there is a technological divide but then lasting solutions lie in the simple technologies such as a mobile phone that are putting third world countries in almost the same platform as the developed countries (Ao & Gelman 2010).
References
Ao, S. & Gelman, L. (2010). Electronic Engineering and Computing Technology. New York: Springer
Duderstadt, J. J. (2000). A University for the 21st Century. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan
Economist.com. The Real Digital Divide. PDF File
Flacks, R. Students Behaving Badly. PDF File
